FAO: Only 3% of Gaza’s farmland accessible as conditions worsen
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization warns most farmland in Gaza is damaged or inaccessible, urging swift action to restore agricultural production.
Key Takeaways
AIThe United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has reported that just 3% of agricultural land in the Gaza Strip remains undamaged and accessible, according to a new geospatial assessment conducted in cooperation with the UN Satellite Centre.
The organization stated that this figure marks a decline of more than a quarter compared to an assessment carried out after the ceasefire in October 2025, attributing the drop mainly to reduced access for farmers as the so-called “yellow line” buffer zone between ceasefire areas and those controlled by the Israeli military has expanded.
The FAO added that the area of available greenhouses has also seen a significant decrease, with the largest decline recorded in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.
Challenges for farmers and urgent calls for action
Rein Paulsen, Director of the FAO’s Office of Emergencies and Resilience, said the assessment paints a grim picture of ongoing deterioration in Gaza’s agricultural sector, noting that restricted access to farmland is limiting food production opportunities, even in areas where agricultural assets remain intact.
Paulsen emphasized that Gaza’s farmers have demonstrated their ability to produce when land and agricultural inputs are available, warning that prospects for restoring local food production will continue to decline unless urgent measures are taken to restore safe access to land and provide necessary support.
The FAO also noted that restrictions on importing and distributing essential agricultural inputs are hampering the sector’s recovery, amid severe shortages of seeds, fertilizers, irrigation equipment, and fuel, as well as difficulties faced by livestock breeders in obtaining feed and veterinary supplies.
The organization called for urgent and sustainable action to restore agricultural production in Gaza by ensuring safe access for farmers to their land, facilitating the entry of agricultural inputs, and supporting the rehabilitation of damaged farmland.